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Phillipsburg man, 80, accused of raping children in Easton

Updated May 23, 2017 at 6:08 PM;Posted May 23, 2017 at 5:31 PM

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An 80-year-old Phillipsburg man was charged with rape of children and other crimes May 23, 2017, and sent to Northampton County Prison, which is seen May 27, 2015, in Easton. (Lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

An 80-year-old man from Phillipsburg was jailed Tuesday for allegedly raping two children in Easton.

Austin Robert Strouse, of the 200 block of South Main Street, allegedly sexually assaulted and raped the girls beginning in 2009, when he was 73, and continuing until about 2011.

The girls were under age 13 and were known to Strouse, according to court records filed by Easton police.

The incidents occurred in Strouse's apartment in the 600 block of Northampton Street in the city, police said.

Strouse allegedly admitted to the acts in an interview May 10 with Detective Ben Mastrofilippo.

Strouse was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Antonia Grifo on two felony counts each of rape of child, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault of a child, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors, in addition to two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault on a person less than 13 years old.

Grifo sent Strouse to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.

She agreed to 10 percent of bail if recommended by Northampton County Pretrial Services. If released, he would need to remain under supervision of pretrial services and have no contact with the victims or children under age 18, court records say.